updated 08:00 am EDT, Fri April 2, 2010

Sharp LCD provides 3D glasses-free

Sharp at a special event on Friday unveiled a 3D handheld display that most already expect will find its way into the Nintendo 3DS. The technique uses a parallax barrier system that controls how light gets out and produces a 3D image without requiring glasses; viewers only need to sit in front of it to get the full effect. Sharp's 3.4-inch touchscreen is still seen as better even in 2D as it produces twice the usual brightness (500cd/m2), 10 times the contrast (1,000:1) and an 854x480 resolution normally reserved for larger displays.

The display has already been described as "mind blowing" and should be useful not just for games but for any mobile task that wants 3D. It can work either vertically or in landscape and can adapt to a live video feed, opening the door to both still and moving cameras that can both capture 3D and display a 3D preview of the final shot.

Mass production will start in the first half of Sharp's fiscal year, which started this month. Sharp hasn't officially said that it will be used for the 3DS but is the only candidate, all but confirming that the Nintendo handheld will have at least one and more likely two of the displays. The formal unveiling may indirectly confirm other details, such as a 3D control stick and vibration feedback. [viaAkihabara News]